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representation|rɛprɪzɛnˈteɪʃən|
Also 5 -acyon(e, 5–6 -acion.
[a. F. représentation (1325) or ad. L. repræsentātiōn-em, n. of action f. repræsentāre to represent: see -ation.]
†1.
a. Presence, bearing, air. Obs.
c1489Caxton Blanchardyn ix. 37 The knyght sayd vnto Blanchardyn, ‘Syre, ye be a right fayre Iouencell, and of noble representacion’. 1598R. Grenewey Tacitus, Ann. ii. ix. (1622) 151 This yoong man of a noble birth, of a manly representation. 1640tr. Verdere's Rom. of Rom. ii. 136 He espied a Knight of so goodly a representation, that he stayed to observe him.
†b. Appearance; impression on the sight. Obs.
1489Caxton Faytes of A. iv. xvii. 279 Amonge the colours is a difference of noblesse for cause of the representacyon that either of hem doon after his nature. 1664Power Exp. Philos. i. 46 The Weft (being flat wired Silver) that crosses the Warp, it makes a fine Chequered Representation.
2. a. An image, likeness, or reproduction in some manner of a thing.
c1425St. Elizabeth of Spalbeck in Anglia VIII. 107 Oure lorde Jhesu..schewiþ..þe representacyone of his blyssed passyone in þe persone of the same virgyne. 1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 154 Slepe is a certain ymage and representacion of death. 1605Bacon Adv. Learn. i. iv. §8 The essential form of knowledge, which is nothing but a representation of truth. c1655Sidney in 19th Cent. Jan. (1884) 58 Theis kinds of writings which are the representations of the present thoughts. 1687A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 102 It seemed to me to be a faint representation of a Town taken by Storm. 1711Steele Spect. No. 22 ⁋3 The Play-House is a Representation of the World in nothing so much as in this Particular. 1746–7Hervey Medit. (1818) 249 The silent chamber, and the bed of slumber, are a very significant representation of the land where all things are hushed. 1806A. Knox Rem. I. 28 It is..the representation of very heaven upon earth. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 280 He liked to think of the world as the representation of the divine nature.
b. A material image or figure; a reproduction in some material or tangible form; in later use esp. a drawing or painting (of a person or thing).
c1477Caxton Jason 66 He..swore right solemply tofore the representation of the goddesse pallas..that he sholde retorne. c1489― Blanchardyn ii. 15 Of Achilles, and of many othre, Of whom he sawe the representacyon in the sayde tappysserye. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 1 b, Ouer the corps, was an Image or a representacion of the late kyng, laied on Cusshions of golde. 1582N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. India i. ii. 29 They fell presently downe upon the ground, worshipping that Representation. 1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies v. vi. 345 They were not content with this Idolatry to dead bodies, but also they made their figures and representations. 1696Bp. Patrick Comm. Exod. xxxii. (1697) 630 They took this opportunity to desire a visible Representation of God among them, as the Egyptians had. 1756–7tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) III. 215 A representation of the triumphal arch erected by Augustus. 1776–96Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 3) IV. 99 This is a good representation, but the leaves are too broad upwards. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 160 The Parliament resolved that all pictures..which contained representations of Jesus or of the Virgin Mother should be burned. 1888Athenæum 3 Mar. 280/1 An inscription..would explain the scene as an allegorical representation of the triumph of the Cæsarians at Philippi.
c. The action or fact of exhibiting in some visible image or form.
1483Caxton Cato A iij b, Thymages of sayntes..gyue us memorye and make representation of the sayntes that ben in heuen. 1579–80North Plutarch, Numa (1612) 67 If we consider what Numa ordained concerning images, and the representation of the gods, it is altogether agreeable vnto the doctrine of Pythagoras. 1830J. G. Strutt Sylva Brit. Pref., Fidelity of representation being..adhered to. 1863Sat. Rev. 6 June 727 Portraits which left on him the irresistible impression of similar..depth of representation.
d. The fact of expressing or denoting by means of a figure or symbol; symbolic action or exhibition. Also pl.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 41 We sholde do as he wolde vs to do by the representacyon or significacyon of y⊇ sayd acte or dede. 1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies v. xix. 380 The manner of the sacrifice was to drowne them and bury them with certaine representations and ceremonies. a1661Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 317 Superstition.., making piety pageantry, and subjecting what is sacred to lusory representations.
e. Math. The image of a homomorphism from a given (abstract) group to a group or other structure having some further meaning or significance; such a homomorphism.
1897W. Burnside Theory of Groups of Finite Order ii. 22 As long as we are dealing with the properties of a group per se, and not with properties which depend on the form of representation, the group may, if convenient, be replaced by any group which is simply isomorphic with it. 1908H. Hilton Introd. Theory of Groups Finite Order xv. 180 One and the same group of linear substitutions may give rise to two or more representations of G. 1940D. E. Littlewood Theory of Group Characters iv. 48 To several elements of the group may correspond identical matrices, so that the representation is not simply, but multiply isomorphic with the group. 1949S. Kravetz tr. Zassenhaus' Theory of Groups ii. 35 A representation is said to be faithful if the homomorphy induced by the representation is an isomorphy. 1971D. Gorenstein in Powell & Higman Finite Simple Groups ii. 76 A faithful, irreducible representation of an abelian group on any vector space is necessarily cyclic. 1974Encycl. Brit. Macropædia I. 752/2 Technically, a representation of a group is a homomorphism of it into another group, most commonly into the group of invertible linear transformations (or matrices) on some linear space. 1980Sci. Amer. May 68/2 The way mathematicians construct a group depends to a large extent on whether the group has a natural representation as the transformations of some geometrical object.
3. a. The exhibition of character and action upon the stage; the (or a) performance of a play.
1589[? Nashe] Almond for Parrat Ded. 4 The order and maner of our playes, which he termed by the name of representations. 1663Cowley Cutter Coleman St. Pref., It met at the first representation with no favourable reception. 1711Steele Spect. No. 22 ⁋1 One of the Audience at Publick Representations in our Theatres. 1756Foote Eng. fr. Paris ii. Wks. 1799 I. 113 Dramatic things, farcical in their composition, and ridiculous in their representation. 1777W. Dalrymple Trav. Sp. & Port. cli, I was told that his theatre was well conducted, but there was no representation during my residence. 1806–7J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) ii. x, The last..scene of the tragedy..is too dreadful for representation. 1849Thackeray Pendennis vii, Never having been before at a theatrical representation. a1862Buckle Civiliz. (1869) III. v. 318 Influence of dramatic representations over opinions.
b. Acting, simulation, pretence. rare—1.
1805Godwin Fleetwood I. vii. 156 The inference usually drawn is that his [a widower's] grief was pure mummery and representation.
4. a. The action of placing a fact, etc., before another or others by means of discourse; a statement or account, esp. one intended to convey a particular view or impression of a matter in order to influence opinion or action.
1553Brende Q. Curtius v. 88 b, When Darius had spoken theis wordes, the representacion of the present perill so amased them all, that they were not able..to shew there aduise. 1662Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ iii. i. §1 A faithful representation of the State of the case between God and the souls of men. 1666Pepys Diary 24 July, Drawing up a representation of the state of my victualling-business. a1704T. Brown Praise Drunkenness Wks. 1730 I. 34 Priests impose no longer on mankind, nor amuse the people with empty representations of what they give no credit to themselves. 1724A. Collins Gr. Chr. Relig. 280 A Representation of him, by the said Convocation,..as a person carrying on the cause of irreligion. 1782Priestley Corrupt. Chr. I. i. 93 There are different representations of the Platonic doctrine. 1853Bright Sp., India 3 June (1876) 4 A fair representation of their views of what was done. 1858Froude Hist. Eng. III. xvii. 506 False representations had been held out to bring the lady into the realm.
b. Insurance. A special statement of facts relating to the risk involved, made by the insuring party to the insurer or underwriter before the subscription of the policy.
1838W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 510 Where the representation is untrue, with a fraudulent design to impose on the underwriter, the policy is completely vacated.
5. a. A formal and serious statement of facts, reasons, or arguments, made with a view to effecting some change, preventing some action, etc.; hence, a remonstrance, protest, expostulation.
1679Longueville Let. 11 Mar. in Hatton Corr. (Camden) I. 182 The King too day, in answer to their Representation (that's y⊇ word now), told them that too much time had been allready lost. 1728Col. Rec. Pennsylv. III. 298 Nothing less than the Preservation of the Rights and Privileges of the Freeman of Pennsylvania could induce us to make the following Representation. 1750Johnson Rambler No. 26 ⁋7, I resolved..to teach young men, who are too tame under representation, in what manner grey-bearded insolence ought to be treated. 1788H. Walpole Remin. i. 14 The minister against the earnest representations of his family..consented to the recall of that incendiary. 1817Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. i. 307 Mr. Hastings was nominated Governor-General..not to be removed..except by the King, upon representation made by the Court of Directors. 1841Brewster Mart. Sc. v. (1856) 69 Ferdinand was enraged..and instructed his ambassador to make the strongest representations to the Pope.
b. Sc. Law. ‘The written pleadings formerly presented to a lord ordinary in the Court of Session, when his judgment was brought under review’ (Bell).
1838W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 854 Twenty days were allowed from the time of pronouncing the judgment, within which the representation might have been presented.
6. a. The action of presenting to the mind or imagination; an image thus presented; a clearly-conceived idea or concept.
1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §90 Though he was exceedingly perplexed with the lively representation of all particulars to his memory, he was willing still to perswade himself, that he had only dreamed. 1694Locke Hum. Und. (ed. 2) ii. xxi. §37 Many..that have had lively representations set before their minds of the unspeakable joys of Heaven. 1727De Foe Syst. Magic i. iv. (1840) 95 That Canaan, pleased with the lively representation of his grandfather's shame, resolved, if possible, to give himself the satisfaction of bringing it to pass. 1838Sir W. Hamilton Logic vii. (1860) I. 126 The word representation..I have restricted to denote..the immediate object or product of Imagination. 1864Bowen Logic i. 12 The Kantians use Representations to designate the genus which includes..Percepts, Concepts and Ideas. 1885J. Martineau Types Eth. Th. I. i. i. §3. 160 A representation of the imagination is a modification of the mind itself.
b. The operation of the mind in forming a clear image or concept; the faculty of doing this.
1836–7Sir W. Hamilton Metaph. xxii. (1860) II. 59 The doctrine of representation, under all its modifications, is properly subordinate to the doctrine of a spiritual principle of thought. 1855H. Spencer Princ. Psychol. §482 It is quite evident that the growth of perception involves representation of sensations.
7. a. The fact of standing for, or in place of, some other thing or person, esp. with a right or authority to act on their account; substitution of one thing or person for another.
1624Gataker Transubst. 4 The Rocke was Christ onely symbolically and sacramentally, by representation and resemblance. 1660R. Coke Power & Subj. 111 So cannot these Members be formed into a body but by the King, either by his Royal presence or representation. 1671E. Chamberlayne Pres. St. Eng. i. ii. xxii. (ed. 5) 50 No Parliament can begin without the Kings Presence, either in Person, or by Representation by Commissioners. 1838W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 854 Whatever infers the substitution of one person in the room and place of another..falls under the general denomination of representation.
b. Law. The assumption by an heir of the position, rights, and obligations of his predecessor. right of representation, the right whereby the son of an elder son deceased succeeds to his grandfather in preference to the latter's immediate issue (see also quot. 1838).
1693Stair Inst. Law Scot. iii. viii. §32 (ed. 2) 503 The Line of Succession in Moveables, is first, the Nearest Descendents, Male or Female, in the same Degree, equally; whether Sons or Daughters, without Right of Representation. 1766Blackstone Comm. II. 225 The right of representation being thus established, the former part of the present rule amounts to this; that, on failure of issue [etc.]. a1768Erskine Inst. Law Scot. iii. viii. §11 (1773) 546 There is a right of representation peculiar to heritage, by which one succeeds in heritable subjects, not from any title in his own person, but in the place of, and as representing some of his deceased ascendents. 1838W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 556 This right of representation takes place in collateral succession to heritage, as well as in that of descendants in the direct line.
8. a. The fact of representing or being represented in a legislative or deliberative assembly, spec. in Parliament; the position, principle, or system implied by this.
1769Burke Late St. Nat. Wks. II. 138 We ought not to be quite so ready with our taxes, until we can secure the desired representation in parliament. 1780Johnson Let. to Mrs. Thrale 25 May, It would be with great discontent that I should see Mr. Thrale decline the representation of the Borough. 1802Bowles Th. Gen. Election 10 A fair and free representation of the people in Parliament was meant to be obtained by means of universal suffrage. 1828Mackintosh Sp. Ho. Comm. 2 May, Wks. 1846 III. 489 Neither can it be said, that the Assembly of Canada was so entirely indifferent to its system of representation. a1862Buckle Civiliz. (1873) III. i. 33 Down to quite modern times, there was in Scotland no real popular representation.
b. The aggregate of those who thus represent the elective body.
1789Constit. U.S. i. §2 Where vacancies [in Congress] happen in the representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election. 1790Burke Fr. Rev. (ed. 2) 60, I found the representation of the Third Estate composed of six hundred persons. 1828–32Webster s.v., It is expedient to have an able representation in both houses of congress. 1883Manch. Guard. 22 Oct. 5/3 A fresh method of election, by which the representation shall be made to reflect with greatly increased accuracy the wishes and opinions of the whole of the electors. |